I'm not going to put up many sermons nowadays, because I have this lazy weakness of not quoting the bible scriptures even though I know for sure it's there, I'm just LAZY as an earthworm to search it and put it up. And what IS a sermon without proper scriptures? but I really WANT to share with you guys the things I've learnt concerning Jesus and these wonderful, better than life truths.

I've decided not to guess what the community needs, and instead do personal addressments to people who come to me to ask, concerning their walk with God, or even non Christian questions, things like emotion management or daily life to life issues. Born Again IS a Christian resource forum, and most of all, I love talking about Jesus, so feel free to tell me about the personal issues bugging you, and I'll share with you bible truths concerening that area

This looks like Ratman's venting thread, but because he is a VERY comforting person, and like everybody's oniisan, I don't have to take up that role. I'm not good with comforts and encouragement though. I can share truths with you, that helped built me in Christ, and open up the Jesus revelation in you. I don't guarantee I'll pray for you, because I hardly pray for myself, I talk to God like some diary instead haa.

I might share things about myself if there is a need, but otherwise I'll only address that concern about the christian's/non walk in life, Jesus, and not about me.

I am having a crisis in my life which is directly related to your religion. You see, I have been trying very hard recently to regain my faith. My girlfriend is strongly religious and so is my family. I want to be able to share that with them and to feel the peace faith brings to a person. Here is my problem: I can't.

I have done all that is in my power to accept that Christianity is true. I have looked extensively at apologetics........ I have gone over the arguments in my mind again and again. I come to the same conclusions. That while naturalism may be flawed (highly debatable premise) there are too many logical absurdities, internal inconsistencies, and historical flaws in traditional Christianity for it to be true. I am unable to believe it. I have joined this group once more to see if there is anything someone here can say to change that. I don't want to debate; I want someone to explain to me how I can have faith in something my mind tells me is unreasonable. Don't take this the wrong way. I truly want to believe.

Well, I am glad that you desire to find peace and know God. Peace doesn't come from philosophy or trying to argue truth, it comes first from accepting that Jesus Christ is the Messiah, and then repenting and turning from your sins and applying the teachings of Jesus in our lives. Christianity isn't just an ideology, it's repentance and a personal relationship with God. Through repentance we are forgiven. The next step is living in the Spirit, reading God's perfect Word and learning from it, opening your heart to God and loving Him. I find peace in knowing that God is in controll, and that God loves me. True peace comes from faith and love for the Lord. Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,* who* have been called according to his purpose. Bad things will happen in life (bad by our defenition), and some might "blame" God for them. Sometimes God puts us through things to make us stronger and to pull us closer to Him. Here is James chapter one. There is much to learn from it. Also, never think that God can't love you for your past actions or sins, God forgives all who are willing to repent and turn. God is so amazing, and God loves you! I have messed up bad in life, and God has forgiven me, and He will forgive you too if you ask.

Jam 1:3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

Jam 1:4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Jam 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Jam 1:6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

Jam 1:7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;

Jam 1:8 he is a double‑minded man, unstable in all he does.

Jam 1:9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position.

Jam 1:10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower.

Jam 1:11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business.

Jam 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Jam 1:13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone;

Jam 1:14 but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.

Jam 1:15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full‑grown, gives birth to death.

Jam 1:16 Don't be deceived, my dear brothers.

Jam 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

Jam 1:18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

Jam 1:19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

Jam 1:20 for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

Jam 1:21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

Jam 1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

Jam 1:23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror

Jam 1:24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.

Jam 1:25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–he will be blessed in what he does.

Jam 1:26 If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

Jam 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Here are some verses about peace. Rom 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

1Cr 7:15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let him do so. A believing man or woman is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace.

1Cr 14:33 For God is not a God of disorder but of peace. As in all the congregations of the saints,

2Cr 1:2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gal 6:14 May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which[fn2] the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Phl 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Phl 4:9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Col 1:20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Col 3:15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

1Th 5:23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2Th 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

2Ti 2:22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

Hbr 12:11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Hbr 13:20 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,

Jam 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

1Pe 3:11 He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.

2Pe 1:2 Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

2Pe 3:14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

And finally, this verse which is also a promise from God.

Hbr 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."*

Jos 1:5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.

These two verses promise that God will never leave nor forsake us. Jesus goes through rought times with us and sustains us and gives us joy and perfect peace. He is there in the desserts of life, and the mountaintops.

I am having a crisis in my life which is directly related to your religion. .

Well I pray that your being true to us on that....If not.... BTW it is not my religion or even a religion. Religions are man made.
What I and the majority have here in Born Again is fath, hope and love of God.....If your being true we have answers....

The reader would be justified in wondering: just what is TAG? I shall try to reconstruct it as best I can. First, it seems there is the Argument from Rational Thought (ART), a kind of inner core which may be formulated as follows:

(1) It is a fact that rational thought exists.
(2) There are just two possible explanatory frameworks for that fact: atheism and Christian theism.
(3) Atheism entails (or presupposes) materialism: the view that everything that exists is reducible to matter and energy.
(4) It is impossible to explain the existence of rational thought solely by appeal to matter and energy.
(5) It follows that atheism cannot adequately explain the existence of rational thought.
(6) In contrast, Christian theism can adequately explain it.
(7) Hence, there is a fact which can only be explained within a framework which declares the existence of the Christian God.
(8) Therefore, the Christian God must exist.

TAG, which is a kind of outer argument that makes use of ART, may then be formulated as follows:

(a) As shown by ART, the fact that rational thought exists entails the conclusion that the Christian God must exist.
(b) Thus, anyone who presupposes the existence of rational thought must also be presupposing the existence of the Christian God.
(c) An atheist who consents to a debate must presuppose the existence of rational thought.
(d) Hence, such an atheist must presuppose the existence of the Christian God, which is self-defeating.
(e) Therefore, to debate an atheist is to win by default.

I did not come here to debate anyone, so I will refrain for debating the validity of this argument unless otherwise requested. I just wanted to know if that is what you were going for. Is it?

OMG youaredumb! I have the perfect book for you. Try reading "C.S. Lewis's CASE FOR CHRIST" by Art Lindsley. It will answer a lot of questions by a well-experienced rationalistic point of view. YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK...or in fact any of C.S. Lewis's own books. Lewis was a hardened athiest, a genius, and a scholar who turned to Christ so I'm quite sure that you'll be able to relate with him.

I have read all of Lewis's books though thank you for your suggestion of Lindsey's book. I will look at it. Lewis is one of the two greatest Christian apologists I have read. The other is Alvin Plantinga.

I have read all of Lewis's books though thank you for your suggestion of Lindsey's book. I will look at it. Lewis is one of the two greatest Christian apologists I have read. The other is Alvin Plantinga.

I have read all of Lewis's books though thank you for your suggestion of Lindsey's book. I will look at it. Lewis is one of the two greatest Christian apologists I have read. The other is Alvin Plantinga.

Youaredumb, lets get to the core of the issue, are you trying to find Christ for yourself or for acceptance in your family? Second, your true intentions are already known by God, so if its another reason besides the ones you mentioned He already knows. So if we misunderstand, or if I am out on a limb here let me know, I can only guess that I think your heart isn't in the right place when you seek God. I would love to be able to help you find Christ, I wish there was a magic verse I could read to you and you could be saved, but when it comes down to it, it has a great deal with faith, and I do not think you have faith in Christ. If you honestly seek Him, He will find you, if you seek Him because your girl is "religious", or your family is "religious" then your in it for the wrong motives, I will pray for your salvation, but when you are ready to accept it, not for this day.

Mark 9:23 And Jesus said to him, "'If You can?' All things are possible to him who believes."